Carvajal scores his first goal for the national team
Photo: KEYSTONE/EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
Spain has started its Euro perfectly. In Berlin, an impressive Roja comfortably beat Croatia 3-0 in a first shock of Group B which turned out to be much more unbalanced than expected.
However, we had to digest a nagging round of observation before the game finally unlocked. But as soon as the Spaniards opened the scoring with Morata (29th), served superbly in the middle by Fabian Ruiz, the Croats collapsed. The same Ruiz added number two shortly after (32nd) after a pass from Pedri.
Defender Dani Carvajal (32) widened the gap in stoppage time, scoring his first goal for the selection. The assist for this 3-0 came from Lamine Yamal, who at 16 years and 338 days became the youngest player to play a Euro finals match.
The FC Barcelona player, where he has really broken out this season (seven goals and eight assists) almost scored 4-0 in the 51st minute, but Livakovic vetoed it. Yamal thus did not beat the record held by the Swiss Johan Vonlanthen. He was 18 years and 141 days old when he scored against France during Euro 2004.
The weight of the years
The Croats, for whom Luka Modric (38) was unable to shine during his 176th selection and was replaced shortly after the hour mark, seemed to feel the weight of the years, often finding themselves in difficulty against at the speed of their opponents. They also lacked realism in attack, missing several clear chances. Zlatko Dalic’s men will have to be more efficient in their next match, Wednesday in Hamburg against Albania.
With a clever mix of experienced elements (Rodri, Carvajal, Nacho, Morata) and already very strong young talents (Pedri, Yamal, Williams), coach Luis de la Fuente has a squad capable of aiming high in this tournament.
/ATS
